Work in groups. Below are some extracts from newspaper articles. Using the phrases above, as well as phrases from Ex. 25, discuss the items.

v Why did so many people want to be on the Internet? One of the main reasons was simply freedom. The Internet is a rare example of a truly, modern, functional anarchy. There is no "Internet Inc.". There are no official censors, no bosses, no board of directors, no stockholders. This virtual freedom, many hold, was the major reason why this form of communication attracted so many users so quickly.

v Recently there has been concern over the negative effect that modern methods of communication are having on the English language. First of all, the increasing usage of e-mails and text messages is changing the way we use grammar: certain words are dropped out to keep message short. Secondly, it is fashionable to shorten the spelling of the words, for example people write "CU later" instead of "See you later". Not everyone has a perfect command of the language but that shouldn't stop them from being able to communicate.

Chair: The first item today is the Internet as the greatest achievement of modern technology. Can we have your input on this, George?

A: I have to say, I totally disagree with the idea of…

B: If I may just cut in here, I'd like to say that ...

Match euphemisms to the correct place in the article.

a) grain-consuming animal units

b) downsize

c) non-decision-making form

d) blamestorming

e) home plaque removal instrument

f) de-job

g) nutritional avoidance therapy

h) volume-related production schedule adjustment

i) energetic disassembly

j) automotive internists

k) members of the vertical transportation corps

l) decruite

Farmers no longer have cows, pigs, chickens or other animals on their farms: according to the US Department of Agriculture farmers have .......................... (1) and that President Reagan wasn't really unconscious while he underwent minor surgery, he was just in a .................................. (2).

We know that a toothbrush is still a toothbrush even if the advertisements on television call it a ................................ (3), and even that ................................. (4) means a diet. But who would guess that a ............................. (5) means a closing an entire factory in the doublespeak of General Motors or that ............................ (6) means an explosion in a nuclear plant in the doublespeak of the nuclear industry?

A final kind of doublespeak is simply inflated language. Car mechanics may be called .............................. (7), elevator operators .............................. (8).

Companies don’t sack staff anymore. They ........................ (9), ............................. (10), “rightsize”, ............................... (11) or “de-layer”. These euphemistic redundancies might take place after a morning’s ................................ (12) – debating who is to blame for a workplace fiasco.

· What effect do the euphemisms produce on the reader?

· Why would the author rather choose doublespeak than neutral expressions?

TALKING POINTS

28 You are applying for the post of Executive Assistant in a large organization. Which of the following would you choose to wear? Why?